BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the value of plasma intermedin (IMD) in assessing severity and treatment efficacy of septic shock.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Healthy male Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were chosen and divided into a normal control group (n=15) and a shock model group (n=27) that received intravenous injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Then, 3 specimens were taken from each group. The shock model group rats were divided into an LPS group and a treatment group with 12 rats each. The treatment group received intravenous injection of compound sodium lactate solution. Plasma IMD and IMD1-47 mRNA expressions were compared and analyzed.

RESULTS: Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was lower while white blood cell count and TNF-α were higher in the shock model group than in the normal control group (P<0.05). After 10 h and 20 h, the treatment group had lower plasma IMD and IMD1-47 mRNA expressions compared with the LPS group (P<0.05). Plasma IMD and IMD1-47 mRNA expressions in the LPS group after 20 h were significantly higher than after 10 h (P<0.05). IMD was positively correlated with interleukins (IL-3, IL-6, and IL-8), white blood cell count, and body temperature (all P<0.05), but were negatively correlated with systolic pressure (r=–0.8474, P=0.0040).

CONCLUSIONS: Plasma IMD level can effectively reflect the severity of septic shock and can be used as an important indicator of septic shock treatment effectiveness.

Keywords: Biomarkers, Pharmacological - blood, Adrenomedullin - genetics, Injections, Intravenous, Interleukins - blood, Lipopolysaccharides - administration & dosage, Neuropeptides - genetics, RNA, Messenger - genetics, Shock, Septic - drug therapy, Sodium Lactate - administration & dosage